NIWOT >> Centaurus girls basketball snapped a four-game losing streak on Tuesday evening with a convincing road victory over Niwot.

Just about everyone joined the fun for Centaurus as eight Warriors scored at least one bucket in the 56-17 win. Senior Ingrid Lorton led the charge with 17 points, while Clara Halloran and Rose Pacheco each contributed 11.

“I was playing with a lot of confidence,” Lorton said. “I came into this game and was like, ‘I’m gonna be tough out there today. I am going to get this win.’ We needed that boost, and we went out there and got it. That’s a good win.”

With nine regular season games still remaining, Centaurus surpassed its win total from last season, improving to 6-8 (1-2 Granite Peaks League). Niwot fell to 9-6 (1-4 GPL).

Tuesday’s win meant a little more for first-year Centaurus head coach Mark Pacheco and his daughter, Rose, a senior point guard. The younger Pacheco spent her first two-plus high school seasons at Niwot with her father as an assistant coach before transferring to Centaurus.

“Because our team has a personal connection to that team, getting that win feels really good,” Lorton said.

Everything went right for Centaurus in the second quarter. After leading 13-9 after the first quarter, Centaurus outscored Niwot 18-0 to enter halftime up 31-9. Six Warriors recorded at least two points in their dominant second quarter, with Pacheco and Malia Grosser each scoring four.

“It was really just teamwork and hustling on defense,” Lorton said of Centaurus’ second-quarter surge. “We had a really good defensive game.”

Freshman Alexis Austefjord and senior Thalia Almaraz led the Cougars with four points in Niwot’s lowest-scoring game of the season.

“We had really good ball movement, but sometimes we weren’t making the smartest passes to move the ball,” Austefjord said. “That was one thing that really gave us a lot of trouble, looking to swing the ball but not always looking for the best pass.”

Looking to build on its newfound momentum, Centaurus will visit Fairview on Friday. Niwot is set to host Mead that same evening.

Centaurus boys earn first league win

Similar to the Centaurus girls, the Warriors boys didn’t look like a team in the throes of a losing streak.

Entering Tuesday on a five-game slide dating to Jan. 3, the visiting Warriors played loose and were rewarded with their first Granite Peaks League victory, topping Niwot 55-22.

“Through the past few games, we’ve been sad and whenever we come in, we don’t have enough energy,” said Centaurus sophomore Faya Tolno. “Today we were just like, ‘We’re gonna come out and have fun, even if we win or lose.’ Having fun is the fuel of basketball.”

Centaurus created separation in the third quarter courtesy of an 18-2 run out of halftime. Junior JT Falzone drilled three 3-pointers in the period, each drawing a louder cheer from his bench than the last.

Alongside Falzone’s nine total points, sophomore Jack Lyle led the Warriors with 10 and Tolno had eight.

“At the beginning of the season we were not connected together at all, but we’re like family now,” Tolno said.

The reinvigorated Warriors are now 6-8 overall (1-4 GPL). Meanwhile, Niwot fell to 4-11 (0-5 GPL) following its sixth straight defeat.

In step with the Niwot girls, the Cougars boys were held to a season-low 22 points but did find some success from beyond the arc. Taylor Rodanski, Archer Buckbee, Jake Gardner and Rohit Das each connected on a 3-pointer.

“We have to get back to practicing and keep on working,” Gardner said. “I think we have a lot going for the future, and we got to get back to working.”

On Friday, Niwot hosts Mead while Centaurus visits Fairview.

“We just got to bring it,” Gardner said. “It’s a new game, and we’re excited.”